Willard council approves three‑party canyon access agreement after months of negotiation, one abstention

Willard — The Willard City Council approved an agreement intended to preserve public access to Willard Canyon while allowing mining operations to relocate parts of the trail as needed, the council said during Monday’s meeting.

The agreement, negotiated among the city, Box Elder County and the Wells family (a private property owner and operator), was described by council members as the most powerful tool available to protect the trail because it formally concedes a public right of way. ‘‘This document once signed is the most powerful thing we have to keep that trail open,’’ the mayor said during the discussion.

During the public‑comment period, local resident Lynn Murphy urged the council to revise five points before final approval, saying the draft allowed the county to vacate sections of the trail at the discretion of a private gravel operator and lacked guarantees of public input, clear timelines, uninterrupted access and a maintained 5‑foot easement width. ‘‘Moving the trail to facilitate mining operations is acceptable as long as the easement remains intact,’’ Murphy told the council and offered a printed list of her concerns.

City negotiators said they had pushed for a 5‑foot width but the county provided 3 feet; they also said the Wells family’s willingness to concede public access was a critical step that likely avoided years of litigation. City counsel/negotiator Colton told the council that paragraph 1.a of the draft provides for ‘‘continued and uninterrupted use of the public trail’’ and that any vacating/rededicating process at the county level would include county public hearings.

Council members debated trade‑offs: some said the draft does not fully guarantee the public’s preferences or timelines for relocations, while others warned that rejecting the deal could leave the trail closed for years if the matter went to court. The mayor said he expected a single relocation to the north side of the canyon that would likely remain in place for years.

A council motion to approve the agreement passed on a voice vote with one abstention recorded for the minutes. Council records show the motion was made by Jake and seconded by Rod; Jordan abstained for the record.

Next steps: city staff said the Wells family expected to remove a fence and allow access after the agreement is signed and required signage is posted. Any future relocations of the trail that require county rededication will be addressed through the county’s public hearing process, council members said.